Lee Drutman
@leedrutman.bsky.social
Political scientist. Believer in democracy, whatever the hell that is.
- Substack: https://leedrutman.substack.com
- Podcast: http://politicsinquestion.com
- Senior Fellow: New America
- Co-Founder: https://www.fixourhouse.org
- Substack: https://leedrutman.substack.com
- Podcast: http://politicsinquestion.com
- Senior Fellow: New America
- Co-Founder: https://www.fixourhouse.org
"The authoritarian minority that has seized control of the GOP scarcely worries about shifts in public opinion from outside its base. They are protected by the zero-sum, binary choice inevitable in a two-party system." substack.com/home/post/p-...
Defeating Authoritarianism with Party-System Reform
A well-organized political minority has taken control of one of America’s two major parties. At the same time, the other major party is unable to build a majoritarian coalition. But there's a way out!
substack.com
February 16, 2026 at 6:56 PM
"The authoritarian minority that has seized control of the GOP scarcely worries about shifts in public opinion from outside its base. They are protected by the zero-sum, binary choice inevitable in a two-party system." substack.com/home/post/p-...
The median voter theorem assumes voters are fixed points in space, which is only true of dead ones.
(And even they decompose into something unpredictable)
(And even they decompose into something unpredictable)
February 16, 2026 at 3:55 PM
The median voter theorem assumes voters are fixed points in space, which is only true of dead ones.
(And even they decompose into something unpredictable)
(And even they decompose into something unpredictable)
I suspect, upon further reflection, most speeches ever given are essentially AI-quality imitations of other speeches, since the same rhetorical tropes have been used over and over again, back to Cicero, back to Aristotle, back to Ur. Human history is basically just copy-paste-adjust_slightly.
it's funny in a way, but the rubio speech is an AI-quality imitation of an Obama speech, but with ethnonationalism replacing pluralism. It's as if the prompt were, "write me an obama speech but make it white supremacist." Hasn't been president in a decade but they're still biting
February 16, 2026 at 3:32 PM
I suspect, upon further reflection, most speeches ever given are essentially AI-quality imitations of other speeches, since the same rhetorical tropes have been used over and over again, back to Cicero, back to Aristotle, back to Ur. Human history is basically just copy-paste-adjust_slightly.
Exactly. "The entire debate—moderate versus progressive, centrist versus left, abundance versus populism, whatever you’d like to call it—constitutes an elite discourse largely disconnected from how most voters actually reason about politics."
www.bostonreview.net/forum/how-no...
www.bostonreview.net/forum/how-no...
Voters don’t think like strategists.
G. Elliott Morris responds in a forum on “How Not to Defeat Authoritarianism.”
www.bostonreview.net
February 16, 2026 at 3:24 PM
Exactly. "The entire debate—moderate versus progressive, centrist versus left, abundance versus populism, whatever you’d like to call it—constitutes an elite discourse largely disconnected from how most voters actually reason about politics."
www.bostonreview.net/forum/how-no...
www.bostonreview.net/forum/how-no...
Popularism in a crisis of democracy: the political philosophy of rearranging deck chairs by consulting the deck chairs about their preferred arrangement.
"the popularist fixation on polls undermines the movement energy required to confront authoritarian threats... Playing defense forfeits the moral clarity and collective purpose that have sustained successful anti-authoritarian movements worldwide."
www.bostonreview.net/forum/how-no...
www.bostonreview.net/forum/how-no...
How Not to Defeat Authoritarianism
Moderation used to help Democrats win, but its advantages now have been greatly exaggerated.
www.bostonreview.net
February 16, 2026 at 3:22 PM
Popularism in a crisis of democracy: the political philosophy of rearranging deck chairs by consulting the deck chairs about their preferred arrangement.
"the popularist fixation on polls undermines the movement energy required to confront authoritarian threats... Playing defense forfeits the moral clarity and collective purpose that have sustained successful anti-authoritarian movements worldwide."
www.bostonreview.net/forum/how-no...
www.bostonreview.net/forum/how-no...
How Not to Defeat Authoritarianism
Moderation used to help Democrats win, but its advantages now have been greatly exaggerated.
www.bostonreview.net
February 16, 2026 at 3:19 PM
"the popularist fixation on polls undermines the movement energy required to confront authoritarian threats... Playing defense forfeits the moral clarity and collective purpose that have sustained successful anti-authoritarian movements worldwide."
www.bostonreview.net/forum/how-no...
www.bostonreview.net/forum/how-no...
Reposted by Lee Drutman
Is America an oligarchy?
Recommend @leedrutman.bsky.social piece in Vox: www.vox.com/politics/410...
(With a shoutout to Plutopopulism cup.org/4cfm0Az 🙏🏽)
Recommend @leedrutman.bsky.social piece in Vox: www.vox.com/politics/410...
(With a shoutout to Plutopopulism cup.org/4cfm0Az 🙏🏽)
Democrats keep saying America is an “oligarchy.” Is that true?
A political scientist explains “oligarchy” and argues that America has earned that label.
www.vox.com
February 12, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Is America an oligarchy?
Recommend @leedrutman.bsky.social piece in Vox: www.vox.com/politics/410...
(With a shoutout to Plutopopulism cup.org/4cfm0Az 🙏🏽)
Recommend @leedrutman.bsky.social piece in Vox: www.vox.com/politics/410...
(With a shoutout to Plutopopulism cup.org/4cfm0Az 🙏🏽)
Reposted by Lee Drutman
Fix Our House founder @leedrutman.bsky.social is in the
@washingtonpost.com's Next 50: the people shaping the future of our society. "The times they are a-changin"
www.washingtonpost.com/post-next/in...
@washingtonpost.com's Next 50: the people shaping the future of our society. "The times they are a-changin"
www.washingtonpost.com/post-next/in...
February 10, 2026 at 5:36 PM
Fix Our House founder @leedrutman.bsky.social is in the
@washingtonpost.com's Next 50: the people shaping the future of our society. "The times they are a-changin"
www.washingtonpost.com/post-next/in...
@washingtonpost.com's Next 50: the people shaping the future of our society. "The times they are a-changin"
www.washingtonpost.com/post-next/in...
Delighted to be named one of the Washington Post's "Next 50" for 2026.
www.washingtonpost.com/post-next/in...
www.washingtonpost.com/post-next/in...
February 9, 2026 at 4:50 PM
Delighted to be named one of the Washington Post's "Next 50" for 2026.
www.washingtonpost.com/post-next/in...
www.washingtonpost.com/post-next/in...
I sure hope Minneapolis is a turning point. But my doom loop skepticism is still getting the better of me. My take: open.substack.com/pub/leedrutm...
Minneapolis Has Three of Four Ingredients for a Turning Point
A cascade may be forming. But does it have anywhere to land?
open.substack.com
January 26, 2026 at 5:39 PM
I sure hope Minneapolis is a turning point. But my doom loop skepticism is still getting the better of me. My take: open.substack.com/pub/leedrutm...
Reposted by Lee Drutman
Proportional representation systems can't be gerrymandered. Don't believe me? Give it a try!
I made a gerrymandering simulator with an imaginary state under either single-member districts or multi-member proportional districts.
How much can YOU gerrymander?
claude.ai/public/artif...
I made a gerrymandering simulator with an imaginary state under either single-member districts or multi-member proportional districts.
How much can YOU gerrymander?
claude.ai/public/artif...
Gerrymander Game: Interactive Electoral Districts Tool
Learn how gerrymandering affects elections. Interactive game comparing single-member vs multi-member districts with real-time seat allocation results.
claude.ai
January 17, 2026 at 12:41 AM
Proportional representation systems can't be gerrymandered. Don't believe me? Give it a try!
I made a gerrymandering simulator with an imaginary state under either single-member districts or multi-member proportional districts.
How much can YOU gerrymander?
claude.ai/public/artif...
I made a gerrymandering simulator with an imaginary state under either single-member districts or multi-member proportional districts.
How much can YOU gerrymander?
claude.ai/public/artif...
Reposted by Lee Drutman
Fusion voting works even in single-winner elections: multiple parties can nominate the same candidate, form clear pre-election coalitions, and give voters real choices. @leedrutman.bsky.social @newamerica.org @politicalreform.newamerica.org @pbs.org
January 15, 2026 at 5:06 PM
Fusion voting works even in single-winner elections: multiple parties can nominate the same candidate, form clear pre-election coalitions, and give voters real choices. @leedrutman.bsky.social @newamerica.org @politicalreform.newamerica.org @pbs.org
Congress could do something! Really.
Love this forum, glad to be a part of it.
www.notus.org/perspectives
@notusperspectives.bsky.social
Love this forum, glad to be a part of it.
www.notus.org/perspectives
@notusperspectives.bsky.social
January 16, 2026 at 4:07 PM
Congress could do something! Really.
Love this forum, glad to be a part of it.
www.notus.org/perspectives
@notusperspectives.bsky.social
Love this forum, glad to be a part of it.
www.notus.org/perspectives
@notusperspectives.bsky.social
Reposted by Lee Drutman
Fusion voting. Why it matters, how it reshapes party power, and what it could unlock beyond our rigid two-party system. If you care about real competition and choice, this one resonated with us for a reason. 🗳️ @leedrutman.bsky.social @newamerica.org substack.com/home/post/p-...
Reflections on the five most popular Undercurrent Events of 2025
And the one piece I had the most fun writing. A year in review, Undercurrents style
substack.com
January 13, 2026 at 2:02 PM
Fusion voting. Why it matters, how it reshapes party power, and what it could unlock beyond our rigid two-party system. If you care about real competition and choice, this one resonated with us for a reason. 🗳️ @leedrutman.bsky.social @newamerica.org substack.com/home/post/p-...
This season's writers are not being subtle anymore with the charactonyms. Dickens' gradgrind ain't got nothing.
prospect.org/2026/01/08/m...
prospect.org/2026/01/08/m...
January 13, 2026 at 6:28 PM
This season's writers are not being subtle anymore with the charactonyms. Dickens' gradgrind ain't got nothing.
prospect.org/2026/01/08/m...
prospect.org/2026/01/08/m...
Here's the thing I don't understand: where is the constituency for a new US imperialism? Who is asking for this? Who wants this?
It's terrible policy, sure.
But it also seems like terrible politics, too.
It's terrible policy, sure.
But it also seems like terrible politics, too.
January 5, 2026 at 1:35 PM
Here's the thing I don't understand: where is the constituency for a new US imperialism? Who is asking for this? Who wants this?
It's terrible policy, sure.
But it also seems like terrible politics, too.
It's terrible policy, sure.
But it also seems like terrible politics, too.
And my most popular substack essay of 2025 was...
...you'll just have to click the link below.
(OK. Fine, I'll tell you. It was my deep data dive on why the whole moderation debate misses the point. But there's plenty more great stuff!)
leedrutman.substack.com/p/reflection...
...you'll just have to click the link below.
(OK. Fine, I'll tell you. It was my deep data dive on why the whole moderation debate misses the point. But there's plenty more great stuff!)
leedrutman.substack.com/p/reflection...
Reflections on the five most popular Undercurrent Events of 2025
And the one piece I had the most fun writing. A year in review, Undercurrents style
leedrutman.substack.com
December 31, 2025 at 12:59 PM
And my most popular substack essay of 2025 was...
...you'll just have to click the link below.
(OK. Fine, I'll tell you. It was my deep data dive on why the whole moderation debate misses the point. But there's plenty more great stuff!)
leedrutman.substack.com/p/reflection...
...you'll just have to click the link below.
(OK. Fine, I'll tell you. It was my deep data dive on why the whole moderation debate misses the point. But there's plenty more great stuff!)
leedrutman.substack.com/p/reflection...
American Exceptionalism!
www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/...
www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/...
U.S. stands out globally in how it draws legislative districts
Among 107 democracies, we found that only one other country uses the same redistricting approach as the U.S.
www.pewresearch.org
December 22, 2025 at 7:27 PM
American Exceptionalism!
www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/...
www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/...
great video explainer on proportional representation
"every vote counts, every voice is heard, and every community matters"
Highly recommend.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xN5V...
"every vote counts, every voice is heard, and every community matters"
Highly recommend.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xN5V...
How Proportional Representation Could End Gerrymandering
YouTube video by Protect Democracy
www.youtube.com
December 19, 2025 at 3:43 PM
great video explainer on proportional representation
"every vote counts, every voice is heard, and every community matters"
Highly recommend.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xN5V...
"every vote counts, every voice is heard, and every community matters"
Highly recommend.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xN5V...
"Technically, the kraken is just exploiting the structural vulnerabilities inherent in the system."
2025 in Review, Undercurrent Events style.
open.substack.com/pub/leedrutm...
2025 in Review, Undercurrent Events style.
open.substack.com/pub/leedrutm...
Reflections on the five most popular Undercurrent Events of 2025
And the one piece I had the most fun writing. A year in review, Undercurrents style
open.substack.com
December 18, 2025 at 7:48 PM
"Technically, the kraken is just exploiting the structural vulnerabilities inherent in the system."
2025 in Review, Undercurrent Events style.
open.substack.com/pub/leedrutm...
2025 in Review, Undercurrent Events style.
open.substack.com/pub/leedrutm...
This is work that Oscar and I did in 2022 to show how Democrats and Republicans were representing very different districts -- even more relevant today!
We wrote about this in 2022 - and the divergence seems to have continued since.
We wanted to see what types of districts each party represented in 2020/2022, what competitive districts looked like, and what that means for the coalitions parties need to win in a winner-take-all system.
We wanted to see what types of districts each party represented in 2020/2022, what competitive districts looked like, and what that means for the coalitions parties need to win in a winner-take-all system.
December 17, 2025 at 6:26 PM
This is work that Oscar and I did in 2022 to show how Democrats and Republicans were representing very different districts -- even more relevant today!
This is a dramatic shift that explains a lot. Thanks single-member districts + geographic partisan sorting!
December 17, 2025 at 4:40 PM
This is a dramatic shift that explains a lot. Thanks single-member districts + geographic partisan sorting!
The Doom Loop is real.
www.bloomberg.com/opinion/feat...
www.bloomberg.com/opinion/feat...
A New Way to Understand America’s Congressional Doom Loop
A simple 2x2 matrix can explain why the House of Representatives has found it harder and harder to get anything done.
www.bloomberg.com
December 17, 2025 at 4:39 PM
The Doom Loop is real.
www.bloomberg.com/opinion/feat...
www.bloomberg.com/opinion/feat...
Is it 1931 all over?
"In 1931, the margins were extremely close. Republicans began the year with a narrow margin. But special elections shifted the balance of power. Once again, the narrow balance of power gave progressive insurgents the ability to demand a more liberal discharge petition rule..."
"In 1931, the margins were extremely close. Republicans began the year with a narrow margin. But special elections shifted the balance of power. Once again, the narrow balance of power gave progressive insurgents the ability to demand a more liberal discharge petition rule..."
with yet another Republican speaker losing control, seems like a good time to re-up this run through the history of congressional organization.
leedrutman.substack.com/p/there-are-...
leedrutman.substack.com/p/there-are-...
There are many ways to organize a House of Representatives. Not all involve a powerful speaker.
A short history lesson to expand our imagination.
leedrutman.substack.com
December 17, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Is it 1931 all over?
"In 1931, the margins were extremely close. Republicans began the year with a narrow margin. But special elections shifted the balance of power. Once again, the narrow balance of power gave progressive insurgents the ability to demand a more liberal discharge petition rule..."
"In 1931, the margins were extremely close. Republicans began the year with a narrow margin. But special elections shifted the balance of power. Once again, the narrow balance of power gave progressive insurgents the ability to demand a more liberal discharge petition rule..."